Afshar Subdistrict in Azerbaijan
A mountain sub-district of the Sain Kaleh district in
Azarbaijan. It lies in the south-eastern corner of Azarbaijan and is bounded by
Anguran in the east, by Uriad in the north, by Sain Kaleh in the west, and
Garius in the south. Roads lead to it from Zinjan, 75 miles; from Mianeh 70
miles; from Maragheh, 85 miles; from Kirmanshah viâ Sinneh and Karaftu,
165 miles; from Hamadan viâ Bijar, 140 miles. It lies in the midst of
high mountain ranges, which in the north rise to an elevation of nearly 11,000
feet, and has a plentiful water-supply, being interested by the head-waters of
the Saruk river, the principal affluent of the Jaghatu, which runs into the
Urumieh lake. The climate is very salubrious, but very cold in winter.
The district has a population of about 12,000 souls,
mostly Turks of the great Afshar tribe who settled here a couple of centuries
ago. Its principal villages are:―
Yulgun Aghach, Tikan Tappeh, Chiragh Tappeh, Akdareh,
Babanazar, Hampa Aqbulagh.
The Governor of the district, generally an Afshar
chief, resides in a strong castle at Yulgun Aghach, built by the late Sulaiman
Khan, who died A.D. 1883, more than 100 years of age.
A hundred horsemen are furnished by the district for
the Shah’s service and the regiment of Maragheh is supplied with a few men
serving as volunteers or substituted. Grain is produced in sufficient quantity
to supply the wants of the district, but there is little surplus. The people
live chiefly by raising sheep and cattle for sale in the Khamseh and Kazvin
districts.
The district is rich in minerals. Fuel and forage are
abundant; horses and mules are reared, but not many of the latter; camels are
neither kept nor reared. Carriage is not procurable. The country is fit for
camels.― (Schindler―Napier.)
Gazetteer of Persia. Volume II. ― Simla: Government of India Monotype
Press, 1914, p. 13.
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